Resource Guides: The First Operation with Ether: A Historical and Medical Perspective: Further Reading

Print Books

A calculus of suffering: pain, professionalism, and anesthesia in nineteenth-century America by Martin S. Pernick
Call Number: History of Medicine WO 211 AA1 P4c 1985

ISBN: 9780231051873
Publication Date: 1985-01-01
Analyzes the impact of anesthesia on nineteenth-century medicine, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of anesthesia, and explains how rules for its use were developed.

The history of anesthesiology by Leroy D. Vandam
Call Number: History of Medicine WO 205 W876h 1971 v. 1-9
Publication Date: 1971-01-01
Contents: Part 1. Account of the first use of sulphuric acid and the discovery of anesthesia -- Part 2. Insensibility during surgical operations -- Part 3. Spinal anesthesia -- Part 4. Signs and stages of anesthesia -- Part 5. Carbon dioxide absorption -- Part 6. Obstetric anesthesia -- Part 7. Physical theories of anaesthetic action -- Part 8. Neuroanesthesia -- Part 9. Pediatric anesthesia

Horace Wells, dentist; father of surgical anesthesia. : Proceedings of centenary commemorations of Well's discovery in 1844 and lists of Wells memorabilia, including bibliographies, memorials, and testimonials by American Dental Association. Horace Wells Centenary Committee, corporate author; William John Gies
Call Number: Main WZ100 W454A 1948
Publication Date: 1948-01-01

Life and letters of Horace Wells, discoverer of anesthesia: chronologically arranged with an appendix by William Harry Archer
Call Number: Main WZ100 W454AR 1945
Publication Date: 1945-01-01

Medicine: the art of healing by Sherwin B. Nuland
Call Number: Humanities in Medicine Wz 330 N969m 1992
ISBN: 9780883633144
Publication Date: 1992-01-01
Paintings, manuscript illuminations, prints, and other works of art reveal the history of medicine, the development of anatomical and scientific illustration, and the work of physicians and surgeons through the ages

Memorial & historical volume, together with the proceedings of the Centennial of the Opening of the Hospital by Massachusetts General Hospital
Call Number: History of Medicine WX 28 AM4 M414 1921
Publication Date: 1921-01-01

Operations That Made History by Harold Ellis
Call Number: History of Medicine WO 11.1 E47o 1996
ISBN: 9780521127820
Publication Date: 2009-05-07
A notable surgeon and charismatic teacher himself, Professor Ellis has brought together in Operations that Made History a fascinating collection of renowned surgical procedures, each one illustrating a different aspect of the history of surgery. The first section of the book looks at examples of surgical procedures which have made a major contribution to the history of surgery, such as the first successful gastrectomy, performed in Vienna over a hundred years ago by Theodor Billroth. Some operations, whilst in themselves minor procedures, have nevertheless had a massive impact on the history of surgery. These are grouped together in the second section. In the final part of the book, Professor Ellis focuses on the famous patient, such as Nelson and George IV. In surgery, as in fields of human activity, history is forgotten at our peril. Operations that Made History gives its readers a unique insight into a remarkable speciality, using the lessons of history to instruct as well as amuse.

Under the ether dome: a physician's apprenticeship at Massachusetts General Hospital by Stephen A. Hoffman
Call Number: Humanities in Medicine WZ100 H711u 1986
ISBN: 9780684185804
Publication Date: 1987-03-01
From Publishers Weekly
As background to an account of his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is now a resident, Hoffmann summarizes the history of the prestigious facility. With considerable literary flair and perspective, he describes how frustrations as well as surprises and rewards during the arduous training brought him often to "the verge of discontent," but helped him evolve a sense of values and change his feelings from those of a nervous "imposter" to confidence tempered by humility and gallows humor. Unusual in a book of this kind is the gratitude expressed by the author to the nurses and to the patients from whom he learned and whom he appreciates as unique human beings. He also offers his views on medical ethics in patient relationships, which he considers are insufficiently emphasized in training, as are non-biological/anatomical models as ways of understanding and treating illness.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Victory over pain; Morton's discovery of anaesthesia by Betty MacQuitty
Call Number: Main WZ100 M891v 1969
Publication Date: 1969-01-01

Books Donated by Manisa S. Desai, MD

The Lamar Soutter Library acknowledges and thanks Manisha S Desai. MD for her books and historical anesthesia artifacts donations. The book donations are being processed and will be available for loan iater in 2025.

Online Resources

The History of Anesthesiology Reprint Series and other texts are available on the E-Book Collection page of the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.